Conveyer



April 19, 1927*,

1,625,347 w. R. BANKsoN Y CONVEYER Filed May 8, 1925 5 Sheets-Sheet l l l@ t N s g 'f/ N .E Y QQ A n; l n l W/ .,l/ LEF@ l l N `l"",\ l 5 QS l1 Q Q ,M7/am REQ/#raam atroz nu! 1,625,347 w. R. `BANKSON CONVEYER April 19, 1927.

Filed May 8. 1925 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 Patented Apr. 19, 1927.

WILLIAM ze. isANKsoN, or PITTSBURGH, PENNSYLVANIA.

coNvnYER.

Application filed May 8, 1925.

This invention relates to conveyers, and the primary object of the invention is to provide a novel means adapted particularly for out-door use to transport articles .or material fromv a point of supply to a point of deposit in an expeditious manner and at a minimum expense.

A further object of the invention is to provide a novel and improved conveyer of the gravity type in which a carrier is adapted to move down an inclined way, the device being so constructed as to permit the same to be controlled by a single attendant.

A still further object of the invention is to provide a gravity conveyer embodying a suspended track on which is mounted. for movement thereover, a wheeled carri-cr, and novel means including a single operating lever for changing the inclination of the track, whereby the wheeled carrier may be made to move from either end of the track to the other at the will of the operator.

Another object of the invention is the provision of a novel load carrier, and means to automatically effect dumping of its load upon reaching the point of deposit.

Still another object of the invention is to provide an improved gravity conveyer of the above kind which is extremely simple and durable in construction as well as etlicient in operation.y

Vith the above general objects in view, and others that will become apparent as the nature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in the novel form, combination and arrangement of parts hereinafter more fully described, shown in the accompanying` drawings and claimed.

In the drawings, wherein like reference characters indicate corresponding parts throughout the several views,

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a gravity conveyer constructed in accordance with the present invention,

Figure 2 is a vertical transverse section of the device shown in Figure 1 drawn on a larger scale,

Figure 3 is an enlarged fragmentary side elevational view illustrating the load car rier and the means for effecting dumping of the contents thereof,

Figure 4t is a perspective view of the mounting bracket for the catch which holds the bottom door of the load carrier closed, and

Figure 5 is an elevational view of the catch,

Serial No. 28,938.

Referring more in detail to the drawings, the present improved gravity conveyer embodies a track 1() upon which is mounted,

for movement thereon, a carrier 1 track embodies a body portion 1. The having upstanding parallel marginal ia-nges 12 on which are adapted to travel the' supporting Disposed at track lO is wheels 14 of the carrier 11. the longitudinal center of the an iipstan-ding attaching flange 15 t are pivotally connected the lower supporting links 16.

o which ends of The carrier 11 consists of a hollow body or receptacle having a hinged bottom dooi` 2O and in which the articles or material to be tra-nspored are or is placed, and this receptacle is supported by a hanger 21 which terminates iii upwardly diverging arms 22 which carry the rollers 14k and downwardly diverging arms 221L which are attached to the sides of said body.

A pair of spaced longitudinal bars 25 are the upposts 26 which are arranged in 25 have ends of are ournaled, the

thereon l The bell cranks 27 are prefon each side of the transverse center of the device, and one series of the bell cranks are arranged in opposite relation to the other series, so

that arms thereof extend in opposite direc n tions.. As shown clearly in Figure oppositely extending arms of the bel gradually increase in length toward the 1, these l cranks outermost bell crank for a purpose which will be hereinafter more fully described. The extreme upper ends of the supporting links 16 are pivoted as at 28 to the ends of these arms of the bell cranks 27, other arms of the Ibell cranks 2T connected together by means of a r and the are all igid bai' 29, so as to insure simultaneous movement of the bell cranks when the bar 29 is The track 10 is thus arranged to s a vertical plane so as to change the moved.

wing in angular position thereof relative to the horizontal,

and it is thus obvious that the end s of the track will have a greater swinging movement than the center of the same, this is coinpensated for by the fact that the fir mentioned arms of the bell cranks 27 des crease in length toward the innerin of bell cranks, as above stated,

st above ost pair ln order to change the inclination ot the track, a hanger rod 3l is arranged at one end et the row of hanger rods 26", and this hanger rod 31 has inounted thereon, at a point intermediate its ends, the operating lever 32. The upper end ol the lever 32 is pivoted to the bar Q9 Ator effecting inoi'enient. et the latter.

The bottoni door 2O of the carrier ll is held in closed position by the hooked lower und oi" a vertical pivoted catch 33 which is pivoted intermediate its ends to a pair ot angular brackets 3ft o'l' the forni clearly shown in Figure 4. The upper free end ot the catch is normally disposed in spaced ielation to the end oit' the carrier ll, and is forced to this position by means oit a spring 35 so that the catch 33 is normally in loching position Afor maintaining the door 2O closed. i suitable traine 3G is rigidly seein-ed to and depends troni the track l0 at the point. ot deposit. and this traine carries a bumper 3T which is disposed to be contacted by the upper end orf the catch 33 when the carrier ll arrives at the point of deposit, whereby the catch 33 will be forcibly r-eleased to :iutoinatically allow the bottoni door 2O of the arrier to swing open tor discharging` or dun'ipingthe contents ot said carrier.

ln the use of the present device as shown in Figure l, when it, is desired to more the carrier lil troni the lett. hand end ot the track to the other end` utter the saine has been loaded, it is merely necessary to swing the lever 32 to the left, or to the position shown, which will raise the lett hand end oi? the track and lower the opposite end thereof. The carrier ll will now inove down the track and thus transport the niatcrial carried thereby `troni one end to the other, and when the carrier arrives at the the point of deposit, the upper end ot the catch 33 strikes the bui'nper 37 so that said catch is swung for releasing the door 20, whereupon the contents oif the carrier are immediately dumped upon the ground. lVhcn it is desired to return the 'arrier to its initial position t'or receiving a new load, it is nierely necessary to swing the lever 32 to the right, which will change the inclination of the track by raising' the right hand end thereof and lowering the lett hand end el the saine.

Freni the foregoing description it is believed that the construction and operation as well as the advantages ot the present invcntion will be readily understood and appreciated by those skilled in the art.

ltiinor changes may be inade without departing troni the. spirit and scope of the in- Vent ion as claiined.

ll'hat I claim as new is:

ln combination with a. tiltable track and a bumper rigid with and depending' 'troni the track, a carrier inounted tor movement on the track including a swingingly inountcd bottonh a catch pivoted to the body for en @jugement with the bottoni and with one end portion arranged to strike said bumper, and a leai springt), arranejed between said portion and the body ot' the carrier.

In testimony whereof I atlix my signature.

lVlLLlAM R. BANKSON. 

